Loft and Kobra windlass control

[watercraft]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help me I’ve a 26 year old 1000w Kobra windlass which has been fitted to the boat since new. It’s been wired to only raise the anchor and only has a single solenoid. Looking at the motor there are 3 terminals with the third not used. I’ve looked at the wiring diagram and it seems fairly straight forward to add a reversing solenoid and run an additional cable for the lower terminal.
I did this today and found that the motor will indeed forward and reverse but when both positive terminals are attached the motor runs very slowly.
Does anyone have any suggestions what could be causing this? Is the motor not designed for this or is it just faulty or am i missing something?
Thanks

 

[Neeves]

Many people do not power down (in fact they are condemnatious of people that do power down - but don't let this influence your ideas) their rode but simply release the clutch. Its quicker and allows you to more accurately place the anchor in the desired patch of sand.

Just another comment, partially to keep your thread fresh and allow you to achieve a relevant and educated answer - Windlass should be serviced, roughly, annually. As you are working on the device - if you have not already done so - check the gear box oil and clean and grease the shaft. When you re-assmeble the gear box remember to use Duralac on any stainless bolts or studs. The 3 common causes of windlass failure are an inability to dismantle (because the stainless bolts have corroded solid to an aluminium casting), or the gears have disintegrated through lack of lubrication or the shaft has seized (or is very stiff).

Good luck

Jonathan

 

[Graham376]

The correct solenoid/controller for Kobra is 2 way, drop and retrieve. I never power down, just slacken the clutch and use that to control payout.

 

[Neeves]

Solenoids stick - take it apart and clean the internals. Take apart carefully. Make sure you know how you took it apart so that you can put it together the same way.

Jonathan

 

[watercraft]

Thanks for the advice - my wife doesn’t like the clutch and get very nervous helming in close quarters so I thought a power down would be a good addition. Not spoken to the l man in agent yet but I’ll update when issue is sorted.